Sebastian Aho scores in overtime as the Hurricanes rally to edge the Canucks 4-3, with Svechnikov and Hall also finding the net.
Aho Seals OT Win for Hurricanes
RALEIGH, N.C. — Sebastian Aho delivered a heart-stopping overtime winner 4:28 into extra time, sending the Carolina Hurricanes past the visiting Vancouver Canucks 4-3 on Friday at the Lenovo Center.
Andrei Svechnikov sparked the rally with two goals, while Taylor Hall added another. Goaltender Pyotr Kochetkov made 14 key saves to secure the victory. Vancouver’s Max Sasson, Elias Pettersson, and Conor Garland found the scoresheet, but Kevin Lankinen’s 34 saves weren’t enough to steal a point.
Fast-Paced Opening Sparks Drama
The first 10 minutes were electric. Vancouver struck first when Sasson netted his fourth goal of the season just 2:45 into the game. Carolina responded quickly, with Svechnikov leveling the score at 4:20, thanks to a slick feed from Aho. Less than a minute later, Svechnikov added another on the power play, assisted by Shayne Gostisbehere.
Pettersson countered for Vancouver with a shorthanded goal at 9:14, capitalizing on a misstep by Sean Walker to make it 2-2. The Canucks’ early energy set the tone for a back-and-forth battle.
Midgame Shifts and Key Injuries
The second period saw Vancouver regain the lead when Garland scored at 3:13, connecting with a precise pass from Brock Boeser. Carolina kept pressing, and Taylor Hall tied it 3-3 at 6:26 of the third, again assisted by Gostisbehere. Carolina dominated offensively, holding a 34-16 shots advantage after three periods.
Carolina also faced adversity as Seth Jarvis left the game early due to a high-stick injury from teammate Svechnikov.
Overtime Drama and Aho’s Heroics
In overtime, Vancouver controlled possession for much of the period. However, Aho spun away from Pettersson and fired a decisive shot over Lankinen’s blocker, marking his 17th career OT winner.
Key Takeaways
- Svechnikov and Gostisbehere each tallied three points for Carolina.
- Vancouver blocked a season-high 29 shots; Carolina blocked just four.
- Both teams converted once on two power-play opportunities.
- Canucks captain Quinn Hughes missed the game with a lower-body injury.
- Vancouver hits the road Sunday against the Tampa Bay Lightning at 2 p.m.
The Hurricanes improved to 12-5-0, while Vancouver fell to 8-9-2. With fast starts and relentless pressure, this game kept fans on the edge of their seats until the very last shot.
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